IBERS Champions Resilient Agriculture at the Royal Welsh Show 2025

IBERS at the Royal Welsh

IBERS at the Royal Welsh

14 August 2025

Llanelwedd, Wales – July 21st - 24th, 2025
The Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), part of Aberystwyth University, made a significant impact at the Royal Welsh Show 2025, showcasing cutting-edge science and practical innovations to support sustainable land use and climate-resilient farming.

With over 240,000 visitors and more than 1,000 exhibitors, this year’s show reaffirmed its status as a cornerstone of the UK’s agricultural calendar. Against this vibrant backdrop, the IBERS stand drew attention from a wide audience, including policymakers, researchers, commercial partners, farmers, and advisors.

Spotlight on Research and Innovation

IBERS highlighted four key research areas central to future-ready agriculture:

  • Resilient Crops – Exploring how crop systems can adapt to environmental stress and future climate scenarios.
  • Biorefining – Demonstrating the conversion of agricultural by-products into high-value, renewable products.
  • Oat Breeding – Celebrating the recent NIAB Cup win, recognising excellence in the development of improved oat varieties.
  • Germinal Grass Breeding – Showcasing ongoing partnership work to develop next-generation forage solutions tailored to livestock farming systems.

These exhibits prompted valuable conversations about how science and innovation can work hand-in-hand with the agricultural community to deliver practical solutions on the ground.

Biomass and Miscanthus: A Talking Point

A standout feature of the IBERS stand was a striking Heston bale of Miscanthus accompanied by the question:
"Have you considered Miscanthus as livestock bedding?"

This sparked widespread interest, prompting visitors to discuss the wider potential of biomass crops—from agronomy and processing to market development. Conversations included the use of biochar for ammonia reduction in poultry houses, the role of perennial biomass in low-carbon farming systems, and how such crops might align with the goals of the new Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS).

Forward-Looking and Farmer-Focused

The event reinforced IBERS’ commitment to co-developing solutions with farmers and industry partners to build more resilient and sustainable farming systems. The positive response at the Royal Welsh Show highlights the appetite for research-led, practical innovation in agriculture—particularly as the industry faces increasing challenges from climate change, market volatility, and environmental targets.